This pesto orzo salad couldn't be easier to make. Vibrant cherry tomatoes, fresh cucumbers and protein packed chickpeas mingle with olives and feta cheese. Toss it all in an easy to make pesto for the simplest, most flavor packed salad EVER.
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Pesto is one of those sauces that makes the simplest ingredients shine. Got gnocchi, pasta or pizza pizza crust? Add a little fresh basil pesto sauce and voila - job done!
While your kids (and mine) might fancy the bottled variety, once you make it from scratch you'll never go back. It's basically a dump and blend operation requiring no fancy ingredients. Plus, you'll get that satisfying feeling you get when you make something from scratch that could have easily been bought bottled.
The pesto recipe for this salad has a whole blog post dedicated to it. So, if you want a more comprehensive look at the process, have a look at Creamy Pesto Salad Dressing.
Nuts are a typical ingredient in pesto. If you or someone you know has a nut allergy, you can make this nut free pesto.
💚Reasons You'll Love This Recipe
💚Pesto orzo salad can be made in advance, making it the ideal salad to take to BBQs and cookouts.
💚It contains no mayo!
💚It's super easy to make and is loaded with fibrous veggies and protein packed chickpeas.
💚You can use this pesto orzo salad recipe as template and add whatever veggies suit your fancy. Have a look below for a few of my personal favorite ingredient swaps.
🙋What Is Orzo?
Orzo is a type of pasta that's shaped like a large grain of rice or a piece of barley. Hence, it's name in Italian, which translates to"barley". But, despite its similar appearance to rice, it's important to keep in mind that orzo isn't gluten free. It's made from semolina, which is made from durum wheat.
Orzo is a staple of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine, where it's used in soups, salad and risottos.
👨🍳How To Make Pesto Orzo Salad
- Cook your orzo according to the instructions on the packet. You want the orzo to be al dente (with a little bit of bite), which should take about 5-6 minutes.
- Drain the pasta in fine mesh sieve and rinse with cool water. Transfer your orzo to a large serving bowl.
- While your orzo is cooking, prepare the pesto salad dressing by blending the ingredients in a blender or food processor.
- In a large bowl add the cooked orzo, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, chickpeas and black olives. Drizzle the pesto dressing over the orzo salad and toss to combine.
💡Variations On Pesto Orzo Salad
While I love the simple, fresh ingredients in this pesto orzo salad, please fee free to make it your own. Here's a few suggestions:
🧡Swap olives for capers.
🧡Omit the vegan feta cheese and replace it with vegan mozzarella for a Caprese twist.
🧡Stir in some fresh spinach or arugula.
🧡Use sundried tomatoes instead of fresh cherry tomatoes.
🧡Add some chopped artichoke hearts.
❄️Storage Instructions
Store the salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It's best to consume it within 2-3 days for optimal freshness.
🙋Frequently Asked Questions
As a general rule of thumb, a serving of orzo per person is about ¼ cup of uncooked orzo (or 2 ounces), which will yield about ½ cup of cooked orzo. Orzo more than doubles in size once it's cooked.
Orzo is a type of pasta that's shaped like a large grain of rice or a piece of barley. Hence, it's name in Italian, which translates to"barley". But, despite its similar appearance to rice, orzo isn't gluten free. It's made from semolina, which is made from durum wheat, which is definitely not gluten free.
Orzo, like other types of pasta, can be part of a healthy diet when consumed in moderation and paired with nutrient-dense ingredients. It's a good source of carbohydrates, which provide energy for the body. It also contains small amounts of protein, B vitamins, and minerals such as iron and zinc.
Also, it's important to note that, like all pasta, orzo is a gluten-containing grain and may not be suitable for those who have gluten sensitivity or celiac disease.
Traditionally, pesto is made with basil, pine nuts, garlic, parmesan cheese, and olive oil. Parmesan cheese is not vegan, which means that traditional pesto is not vegan.
However, there are variations of pesto that can be made vegan by using alternatives to parmesan cheese such as nutritional yeast, soy or almond parmesan cheese, or vegan cheese. Some vegan pesto recipes also use other types of nuts, such as almonds or cashews, in place of pine nuts.
Craving More Easy Vegan Pasta Recipes?
Lemon Orzo Salad With Asparagus
Cajun Coconut Milk Pasta Sauce
📖 Recipe
Easy Pesto Orzo Salad
Ingredients
- 8 ounces orzo pasta
- 1 cup cucumber finely chopped
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes cut in half
- 15 ounce can chickpeas drained and washed
- ½ cup black olives
- ½ cup vegan feta
Pesto Salad Dressing
- 1½ cup basil leaves packed
- 2 garlic cloves peeled and chopped
- ½ cup olive oil extra virgin
- 2 tablespoons pine nuts
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the orzo according to the instructions on the packet. You want the orzo to be al dente (with a little bit of bite), which should take about 5-6 minutes. Drain in a fine mesh sieve and rinse with cool water.
- While the orzo is cooking, prepare the pesto salad dressing by blending the ingredients in a blender or food processor.
- In a large bowl add the cooked orzo, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, chickpeas and black olives. Drizzle the pesto dressing over the orzo salad and toss to combine.
- Sprinkle with the vegan feta and serve.
Notes
- Please note that orzo is not gluten free.
- Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days in an airtight container.
Rachael
Love this pesto orzo salad! It’s great to make for the beach or a quick on the go lunch. Thank you!
Keri Bevan
Hi Rachael,
Thanks so much for your feedback. I'm glad you enjoyed the recipe!x